Antarctica Basecamp

From Ushuaia to Ushuaia
  • All Antarctic Cruises
  • Antarctic Peninsula
  • Small Ship Cruising
  • Wildlife and Nature
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Tour Description

This Antarctic cruise allows you to hike, snowshoe, kayak, take zodiac cruises, go mountaineering, and even camp out under Antarctic skies. All activities are included in the cruise price! 

Sailing across the wild and exciting Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula our expedition cruise ship, will be your basecamp in Antarctica waters as you participate in a range of shore excursions offered throughout each day. These small vessels, 108 - 176 passengers offer an exciting adventure in Antarctica.

You can kayak through still waters that mirror soaring icebergs, or with leopard seals or even whales as companions. Snowshoe to impressive glaciers encountering rowdy penguin colonies along the way. Camp overnight and experience the starry stillness of an Antarctic night. Ambitious travellers can go mountaineering on craggy peaks or get the most out of your photos by taking part in a photo workshop.

Every day on this Antarctic expedition you can participate in an active adventure and have a close encounter with the wildlife and spectacular landscape of this last great wilderness. 

 

Viva's Best Bits...

"If you want an active adventure in Antarctica, this voyage is the perfect option as it includes camping, kayaking, snowshoeing, mountaineering and photo workshop in the voyage rate!" Tara, Team Viva

Explore the polar coastlines and inlands with a wide variety of invigorating hikes designed for all hikers to enjoy, or take part in a photo workshop and capture the perfect penguin photo! So many options...

Few things get you closer to the Antarctic expedition experience than making camp, settling into your bivouac bag, and sleeping under the Southern Hemisphere stars...join this cruise and sign up to camp in Antarctica!

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Ushuaia

Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.

Day 2-3
Drake Passage

Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.

Day 4-10
Antarctica

Gray stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between Brabant and Anvers Islands.

Places you might visit includes:

Neumayer Channel – The vessel may position itself here, launching its multiple basecamp activities from the protected waters around Wiencke Island. You can enjoy the splendors of this alpine environment at sea with Zodiac and kayaking trips, or if you’re in the mood for a walk, there are possible snowshoe hikes and soft-climb mountaineering options farther inland. Naturally, favorable weather conditions determine the possible activities.

Port Lockroy – After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags. At the nearby sites, such as Damoy Point there may be the opportunity for snowshoeing to the old ski-way, this is also one of our favourite camping sites.

Pléneau & Petermann Islands – If the ice allows it, you can sail through the Lemaire Channel in search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. There’s also a good chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales here, as well as leopard seals. Kayaking, glacier walks, and more ambitious mountaineering trips are the potential activities of this location.

Neko Harbour – An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.

Paradise Bay – You have the chance to make camp here like a true polar explorer, enjoying a supreme overnight Antarctic adventure.

Errera Channel – Possible sites in this area include Danco Island and Cuverville Island, but also the lesser known (though equally picturesque) Orne Island and Georges Point on Rongé Island.

On your last day of near-shore activities, you pass the Melchior Islands toward the open sea. Keep a sharp lookout for humpback whales in Dallmann Bay. You might also shoot for Half Moon Island, in the South Shetlands, with further chances for activities.

Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.

Day 11-12
Drake Passage

Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.

Day 13
Ushuaia

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.

Please note some departures dates are 13 days long, please ask us for full details

What’s Included

Accommodation
  • Included Copy 20 12 nights Accommodation onboard
Food
  • Included Copy 20 All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
Fees & Services
  • Included Copy 20 All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
  • Included Copy 20 Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
  • Included Copy 20 Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
  • Included Copy 20 Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia.
  • Included Copy 20 Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia
  • Included Copy 20 All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
  • Included Copy 20 Comprehensive pre-departure material.
  • Included Copy 20 All offered activities (including camping, kayaking, snowshoeing, photo workshop)
  • Included Copy 7 Airfares and travel insurance
  • Included Copy 7 Gratuities, laundry, additional drinks, telecommunication charges.
Transportation

MV Plancius

108 Passengers

MV Ortelius

108 Passengers

MV Hondius

176 Passengers

Activities

  • Included Zodiac cruising and shore excursions
  • Included Kayaking in the Antarctic Peninsula
  • Included Snowshoeing options to explore on foot, all abilities
  • Included Lectures onboard from specialists
  • Included Camp overnight for a unique experience
  • Included Want to go further? Mountaineering in Antarctica!
  • Included Photo workshop with pro photographer
  • Included Visit penguin colonies
Click here for dates & prices
Duration

13 days

Price from

$8,600 USD

Per person, sharing

Based On Lowest Cabin, quad

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